i could not agree with you!

you need know how to pronunce every single vowels and consonants, then follow the dictionary. Merriam-Webster is the best dictionary/corrct pronunciation to follow. if you don't know the every single syllables pronunciation, just imitate, many cases, you still could not catch the right pronunciation.

贴一个我上语音课时其中一页的笔记！希望对大家有用！(posted several years ago, copy here and wish it helps )

第二 按发音位置分类(辅音):place (not include all consonants)
1.bilabial [p] [b] [m] [w]
双唇音--由上唇和下唇接触，使语流受阻而成的一种辅音。
2.labiodental (just two [f] [v] but difficult for Chinese)
唇齿音--由唇与牙齿的咬合而发出的辅音。
3.lingua-dental (just two [θ] [ð] but difficult for Chinese)   
舌齿音--牙齿咬着舌头发出的音。
4. lingua--alveolar [t] [d] [s] [z] [t?] [d?] [n] [l]
齿槽音– 舌头贴着齿槽发出的音
5. lingua--palatal [?] [?] [r] [j]
上腭音--舌头贴着上腭发出的音。
6.lingua-velar [k] [g] [?]  
软颚音--舌头贴着软颚发出的音
7.glotta (just one: [h])    
声门(声带)音--自声门发出的音。

Potentially difficult contrasts for speakers of Chinese:
[i:] & [i] beat-bit, peak-pick
[?] & [?u] cot-coat, cod-code, 
[?] & [au] dot-doubt, shot-shout, fond-found
[w] & [v] [w] 半元音, 嘴型是圆的. [v] 为唇齿音, 上牙齿必须touch下嘴唇.
eg, west -vest, wail-veil, worse-verse
[θ] & [s] thank-sank, thing-sing, thumb-some [θ] 舌齿音
[ð] & [z] then-Zen, teethe-teaser [ð] 舌齿音
[n] & [l] 两都是齿槽音, 但[n]为鼻音especially at the begin of a word eg, night-light
[n] & [?] especially in the end of a word. eg fan-fang, thin-thing
[r] & [l] especially in the end of a word eg, fire-file, wall-war, whole-whore